We’ve always relied on energy to move us forward. Here and around the world, the decades ahead will be defined by how we meet the challenge of climate change.
Our single goal is net-zero by 2050. But there is no single answer. To achieve this bold target, we must transform how energy is produced, stored, distributed, and consumed in Nova Scotia.
Our future energy system needs to be built on two foundational principles:
1. Energy Efficiency and Conservation
We must change the way we consume energy and significantly reduce our energy demand.
2. Cleaner Electricity and Gas
We must change the way we produce our energy by shifting to low carbon sources. Renewable electricity, as well as renewable natural gas and hydrogen gas.
Nova Scotia needs a clean gas grid working together with a clean electricity grid to meet our net-zero goal.
Achieving net-zero carbon emissions means transforming the gas that flows through our underground pipes. We need to move from the traditional natural gas of today to renewable natural gas and low-carbon hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen, like electricity, is a flexible energy carrier that can be made from a variety of sources. Hydrogen can be blended with natural gas to lower the carbon intensity of gas. It can be safely used by customers for transportation, home heating, industrial heat or electricity generation. In the future, the natural gas grid can be converted to distribute up to 100% hydrogen. Hydrogen gas can be stored underground in large volumes and distributed in real time to meet our fluctuating energy demands.
Blue Hydrogen is produced from traditional fossil fuels, typically natural gas. The carbon that would usually be emitted is captured and sequestered, resulting in a 90% cleaner energy source than today’s natural gas.
Green Hydrogen is produced from excess renewable electricity, like wind and solar, through a process called electrolysis. When the wind is blowing and the sun is shining, but overall energy demand is low, emission-free hydrogen gas can be produced and stored for when energy demand is higher.
While we explore hydrogen technology, Nova Scotia has an opportunity to develop local sustainable and renewable gas projects from organic waste, such as compost, wastewater, landfill waste or wood waste. These projects can start today and will contribute to a stable, circular economy and turn the waste we generate today into the energy we need tomorrow.
An integrated energy system fundamentally changes the way we store and distribute energy, by linking the electricity and gas grids. We can use also green hydrogen to store wind and solar energy, so we can use it when we need it. With clean electricity and clean gas working together, we can meet our net-zero goals and ensure we have a sustainable and vibrant world to live in.
By 2050, the world will be very different from today as we optimize technologies and use energy in new ways. An integrated energy system offers many advantages over electrification in meeting our energy challenges.
Hydrogen gas and integration enables the growth of local sources of clean energy in Nova Scotia, including additional renewable wind energy. These clean energy sources, along with renewable gas from waste, contribute to a sustainable future through a circular economy.
Some sectors are difficult to electrify, such as high-temperature industrial processes and heavy transportation. A clean gas grid can continue to serve these sectors with reliable, low-carbon energy.
When everyone demands energy at the same time, our peak demand spikes. As we move to electricity to decarbonize our energy, the peaks in the demand will become larger. Energy demand spikes from cold weather can be addressed through the installation of hybrid heating systems, including gas boilers and electric heat pumps to provide space heat to homes and businesses.
Most of Nova Scotia’s current electricity grid is above-ground and vulnerable to weather events that are increasing in frequency and severity. A linked energy system between the electricity grid and the reliable underground gas grid, will result in a more robust energy system.
Reducing Nova Scotia’s emissions to net-zero by 2050 is an ambitious goal, and we all have an important role to play in achieving it. Nova Scotia is uniquely positioned to lead the clean growth and green jobs transformation in Canada.
Moving forward, let’s use our wind, biomass, tides, green hydrogen, and our hydrogen-ready gas grid as catalysts to transform Nova Scotia into a green energy economy and increased energy independence.
By working together and taking action now, Nova Scotia can lead the way to a clean energy future for our province and the planet.
What’s Next?
Eastward Energy recommends several collaborative actions to help drive progress toward a clean, resilient and affordable energy system in the future:
- Develop a Collaborative Clean Energy Roadmap to help plan Nova Scotia’s optimal net-zero energy system. The roadmap would evaluate different scenarios for the Province’s future energy system, from primary energy supply to end use demand, while considering the feasibility, affordability, resiliency, acceptability and environmental impacts of each scenario.
- Create a Fuel-Neutral Energy Efficiency Program for Buildings that incentivizes to all homes and commercial buildings to improve thermal energy efficiency and switch from higher-emitting to lower-emitting energy sources.
- Develop a Low-Carbon Building Heating Strategy that considers the value, benefits, and limitations of different heating fuels and mechanical systems to decarbonize space heat, domestic hot water, and cooling in the building sector, while also considering affordability, versatility, and resiliency.
- Collaboration on Low-Carbon Gas Projects, where funding is available to reduce capital costs or subsidization of energy costs for renewable natural gas (RNG) or hydrogen projects.
We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts or questions about hydrogen gas, renewable natural gas, an integrated energy system or how we can collaborate to achieve net-zero in Nova Scotia.
Many places and partners around the world are working to develop low carbon economies. Check out the progress being made.
